Fear grips the nation as Americans see enemies in the people next door.

REMEMBER that kid in "The Sixth Sense"? He saw dead people wherever he looked. America has become like that Only we see enemies. Wherever we look.

And they frighten us.

Straight people see gays and fear they will turn their boys into sissies and their girls into Ellen DeGeneres. Gay people see straights and fear they want to "change them back to normal" or legislate them out of existence.

Religious types fear those less faithful want to smash the Ten Commandments out of existence. Non-religious types fear those more faithful want to shove all Ten Commandments down their throats.

Conservatives see liberals and fear they want the whole country barefoot, Communist and living on welfare. Liberals see conservatives and fear they want the whole country to look like "Leave It to Beaver."

Poor people see rich people and figure they must have scammed the system to get all they have. Rich people see poor people and think they must be scamming the system to get their tax dollars.

The pro-war crowd fears the "peaceniks" will lower our guard and invite terrorists to our shores. The anti-war crowd fears the "hawks" are creating new terrorists every day.

The pro-Bush crowd thinks the other side wants to destroy a faithful, honest public servant. The anti-Bush crowd thinks we're being duped by a former frat boy who uses religious hot buttons to license his cold heart.

Straight people fear that "activist judges" will turn our country into a Key West toga party. Gays fear that if they can't go to judges, they'll never undo the discrimination locked into our system.

Religious types fear stem cell researchers are on a slippery slope to baby killing. Stem cell researchers fear religious types are on a slippery slope to the Crusades.

Conservatives see the "liberal media" as a place where minorities get jobs simply because they are minorities. Liberals see the "conservative media" as the home office for white males over 50.

Poor people get mad when rich people find ways not to pay their taxes. Rich people get mad when poor people don't have to pay taxes.

The pro-war crowd hates critics who "undermine our troops." The anti-war crowd hates neocon hawks who "misled our troops."

The pro-Bush crowd thinks his critics can't stand a man who is firm in his convictions. The anti-Bush crowd thinks his supporters are morons who admire stubbornness because it's easier on their brains.

Gun lovers see their critics as nerdy, liberal girlie men who only want to take away their fights. Gun critics see their gun-loving crowd as yahoos who would rather fire than switch.

Pro-Bush types think America has been saved. Anti-Bush types think America has been sunk.

And there we are. We see enemies. Everywhere.

But here is the problem: We are looking at each other.

And until we start seeing "fellow Americans" instead, it won't matter who is in office. We'll destroy ourselves.

Mitch Albom is the author of the bestsellers "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and "Tuesdays With Morrie."